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Unlocking the potential of African Scientists
28th January, Nairobi
- Designing quality research projects and preparing successful funding proposals.
- Writing papers for publication in journals and other media where results can be easily accessed by the wider conservation community.
- How to communicate with policy makers.
Apply now for TBA's courses in 2010
The Tropical Biology Association will again be running four field courses in 2010.- TBA 10/1 - 20 June to 19 July
Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania - TBA 10/2 - 27 July to 26 August
Kibale Forest, Uganda - TBA 10/3 - 1 October to 30 October
Danum Valley, Borneo - TBA 10/4 - 1 November to 30 November
Kirindy Forest, Madagascar
See the publicity poster, 'What are TBA courses?' and 'current courses' for further details. The closing date for applications is 20th February 2010.
Please read carefully the information on how to apply.
11th Student Conference on Conservation Science
The Student Conference on Conservation Science is aimed at young researchers working in university departments, conservation organisations, or resource management agencies. Approximately 200 postgraduate students (and similar-stage researchers) attend the conference each year, from a broad range of disciplines in conservation, including ecology, geography, sociology and economics. It will take place at the University of Cambridge from 23-25 March 2010. Full details and application forms are on the SCCS website. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2009.
New Small Grants Scheme for TBA alumni groups
These grants are now available to TBA alumni groups to assist them with their conservation projects and to strengthen their proficiency in natural resource management and research. The closing date is 30th April each year. See Small Grant Scheme for more information and instructions for applicants and contact TBA's Project Officer in the Nairobi office if you are interested.
TBA 2009 newsletter now out
The 12th TBA Newsletter is now out and is being emailed to over 1100 alumni and many other contacts. It highlights recent milestones, including TBA's 50th course and launches TBA's Small Grants Scheme for TBA's alumni groups. The newsletter is an enjoyable way to gain first hand experience of TBA'S courses and workshops - we hope you have fun reading it.
TBA participates at the Student Conference on Conservation Science
The TBA enjoyed the 10th Student Conference on Conservation Science as both an organiser and host to over two dozen TBA alumni who took part as speakers, poster presenters and chairs. Mija Andriamarovololona (Kibale 2005) chaired the session on habitat loss and land-use change while Mark Otieno (Kibale 2001) chaired the one on insights from Africa. Mija and Mark also joined 8 other SCCS alumni to lead a workshop on careers advice for young conservation scientists.
Abu Conteh (Kibale 1998) gave a presentation about the impact of war on conservation in Sierra Leone, Roma Randrianavelona (Kirindy 2003) spoke on identifying sites for conserving golden mantilla frogs in Madagascar and Ben Phalan (Kibale 2005) talked about farming and tropical forest diversity. There were posters displayed by at least nine alumni. Two posters displayed the work that TBA alumni had carried out during their TBA courses. Fons van der Plas (2008) presented a poster on the effects of logging on arthropod diversity and biomass in Kibale Forest. Agnieszka Malinowska's poster related to work she had done on frog and invertebrate species-richness while on the TBA course (Amani 2007) in Tanzania.
TBA Alumni meet at SCB Conference
Nine alumni attending the 1st Conference of the Africa Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (28 to 30 January 2009) held at the University of Ghana, together with TBA staff, held a rare side meeting-cum-reunion that discussed among others the challenges facing alumni groups across Africa. Alumni groups represented were Benin, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya. The TBA will use the outcome of this meeting to help profile, but also support activities and growth of the alumni groups.
It was excellent that 14 alumni from 12 past TBA courses (and one specialist training workshop), and the four TBA course field stations in Africa, participated in this conference; this was a unique opportunity for the alumni to make contacts and share their work with like minded scientists and conservation practitioners from across Africa. The conference, whose theme was “from conservation science to policy in Africa” combined talks, posters presentations and open discussion with good contributions from the alumni present. The TBA also ran the only pre-conference workshop focusing on fund-raising. We encourage, all alumni to always take advantage of such events that run in Africa as this represent a cheaper were to gain knowledge, and create new links that will enhance your personal profile.
The TBA alumni desk announces key events through the TBA bulletin board – keep up-to-date, read the bulletin board regularly.
Society of Conservation Biology 2005 Distinguished Service Award
The TBA is a recipient of the Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service Award for 2005. This was awarded in recognition for TBA's contribution to the conservation of tropical biodiversity through unique and innovation capacity building and fostering of expertise and support for young conservation biologists. With a membership of 6,000 in 90 countries, and the prestigious journal Conservation Biology, the SCB is regarded as the premier professional society for those seeking to conserve biological diversity. The award was given at the 19th annual meeting of the SCB, held in Brasilia on the 15-19th July 2005.
Annual TBA newsletters
Each year TBA produces a newsletter by our alumni for our alumni providing individual updates; news about TBA itself; and its latest activities; and most importantly articles written by past participants about their TBA course. Below are some previous newsletters that were produced.
TBA newsletter 2003 (pdf)
TBA newsletter 2005 (pdf)
TBA newsletter 2006 (pdf)
TBA newsletter 2007 (pdf)
TBA newsletter 2008 (pdf)
TBA newsletter 2009 (pdf)